Blend Technology Research Articles

Biobutanol extraction and dehydration with eucalyptus oil yielding linear and cyclic biofuel blends

AbstractThe biobutanol‐based biofuel fermentation is hindered by the challenge of inadequate fermentation broth concentration and the azeotropic systems of water. The application of eucalyptus oil in diesel fuel makes it a promising extractant for biobutanol extraction and dehydration, thus resulting in product recovery and the development of fuel blend technology. Eucalyptus oil‐derived 1,8‐cineole was applied to acetone‐butanol‐ethanol (ABE) and isobutanol systems to enhance the butanol recovery and dehydration. The recovery of n‐butanol and isobutanol reached 92% and 95%, respectively, while the water removal in a 2% butanol system exceeded 99%. These results demonstrated that 1,8‐cineole exhibited a high selectivity toward butanol, thus providing a robust theoretical foundation for the fermentation‐based biofuel recovery and the elimination of azeotropic systems. The introduction of high‐density diesel‐fuel‐like eucalyptus oil into low‐energy‐density biobutanol will increase the energy density of fermentation‐based alcohols, yielding linear and cyclic biofuel blends.

Preparation of porous carbon fibres : A review

Porous carbon fibres(PCF) was extensively applied to energy storage, environment pollution control and healthcare due to their superior electrical conductivity, diverse aperture,high specific surface area and super electrochemical stability.This paper reviewed the methods of preparing porous carbon fibres.The preparing PCF technology mainly included template methods( hard templates,soft templates, dual-templates), electrospinning technology and polymer blend technology. The working principles of different pore-forming techniques were summarized.The contributions of different preparation techniques to improve material properties such as electrochemical properties,adsorption performance,drug sustained-release materials and catalitic activity in practical applications were described.The different preparation methods had their superiorities and places needed improving.It was proposed that develop more advanced template methods to prepare PCF with reasonable cost, zero environmental pollution, high efficiency and easy removal.

Emission behavior of crumb rubber modified asphalt in the production process

The volatile and semi-volatile emissions of crumb rubber modified asphalt (CRMA) has a negative effect on atmosphere environment, which might restrict its application in pavement engineering. To solve this problem, it is necessary to understand the emission behavior of CRMA in the production process, which has not been well evaluated yet. The present study aims to investigate the emission behavior of CRMAs during production at 180 °C, 220 °C and 260 °C. Two neat binders and one minus 40 mesh crumb rubber were involved in the preparation of CRMAs. The emission samples were collected by activated charcoal sorbent tube in the laboratory and desorbed by carbon disulfide for further gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The results indicate that the emission behavior of volatiles and semi-volatiles can be described with a fast-slow two-stage emission function, consisted of a linear fraction and an exponential fraction. Terminal blend (TB) technology, e.g., 260 °C curing process, offers environmental advantage over traditional wet-process due to the fact that a large amount of emissions in the TB process can be disposed at the refinery. Compared with neat asphalt, crumb rubber modified asphalt (CRMA) has 9 new compounds, including benzothiazole, N-cyclohexylcyclohexanimine, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquine, diphenylacetylene, dicyclohexyl disulfide, hexadecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid, N-(1,3-Dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl-1,4-phenylenediamin, which are mainly derived from accelerators and additives commonly used in the rubber industry.

Thermal Performances and Fluidity of Biodegradable Poly(L-lactic acid) Filled with N, N'-Oxalyl Bis(piperonylic acid) Dihydrazide as a Nucleating Agent

N, N'-oxalyl bis(piperonylic acid) dihydrazide (PAOD) was obtained through the amination of piperonylic acid chloride and its structure was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer and nuclear magnetic resonance. Melting blend technology was used to prepare the modified poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) containing the various loading PAOD as a new organic nucleating agent. The thermal performances including crystallization, melting behavior and thermal decomposition process, as well as the fluidity of PAOD-nucleated PLLA were investigated via a series of tests. The DSC results showed that, in comparison to DSC curve of the virgin PLLA, the DSC curves of all PLLA/PAOD appeared the sharp melt-crystallization peak, and a higher PAOD concentration caused the melt-crystallization to occur in the higher temperature region and reduced the negative effect of the high cooling rate on the melt-crystallization process. However, with increasing of PAOD concentration, the cold-crystallization enthalpy decreased from 24.4 J/g to 16.7 J/g. The melting peak after melt-crystallization depended on the heating rate and the PAOD concentration; and the double melting peaks appeared after isothermal crystallization in low temperature region was thought to be due to the melting-recrystallization. The addition of PAOD decreased the onset decomposition temperature of PLLA, but the onset decomposition temperature was determined by the PAOD concentration and the intermolecular interaction of PLLA and PAOD. Additionally, the PAOD could considerably improve the fluidity of PLLA.

Boosting pseudocapacitive energy storage performance via both phosphorus vacancy defect and charge injection technique over the CoP electrode

It is an indisputable fact that electrochemical performance is always ameliorated by introducing proper phosphorus vacancy defect into electrode materials. In this work, the lattice-like CoP grown on the nickel foam with appropriate concentration of vacancies is fabricated successfully. The specific capacitance of 1865 F g−1 is improved by 1.7 times compared with the pristine CoP of 1125 F g−1 at the current density of 1 A g−1. Meanwhile, the deliberately designed electrode also possesses great stability of retention rate up to 90% after 5000 cycles. Before the electrode is assembled into the asymmetric supercapacitor, the potential window is altered by electrode potential blend technique in order to utilize capacitances of anode and cathode efficiently. Subsequently, the supercapacitor is studied in the electrochemistry systematically. The results show that power density is up to 737 W kg−1 as energy density is 31 W h kg−1. Meanwhile, the capacitance retention rate remains 88% after 5000 cycles. It is a meaningful guide for exploring efficient energy storage equipment that appropriate vacancies are injected into electrode materials, and optimal potential windows are obtained via electrode potential blend technology.

Teachers’ Practices in Blended Learning Environment: Perception of Students at Secondary Education Level

The overload in teachers’ role has been renowned and optimized by generative adaptation of technology, which means teaching capability can be improved if educationalists blend technology tropically and timely. Based on this belief, this study tried to judge the teachers’ practices in Blended Learning (BL) environment in the context of secondary level students. For this purpose, an empirical study was conducted at Government High School No.1 (boys) Tordher district Swabi Khyber Pakhtun Khwa (KPK). All 120 enrolled science students of grade 9 and 4 science teachers participated in the study. The students’ perception of teachers’ practices of preparedness, innovation, and developing feedback skills in the BL environmentwere ascertained through a survey questionnaire whereas 20 students were also interviewed randomly. The responses were measured through a 5-point based Likert scale, data were analyzed through descriptive statistics. The research method used for this study was the explanatory sequential approach of mixed-method (Creswell, 2014). Based on the study findings, teachers’ practices improved in the BL environment and hence recommended that secondary school teachers need to be encouraged to use the BL approach instead of merely using Information Communication Technology (ICT) or traditional methods of teaching.

Assessment of Naphthalene Absorption Efficiency from Coke Oven Gas

The quality and quantity of coke oven gas depend on the properties of charged coal blend and cokemaking technology. In general, the raw coke oven contains naphthalene vapor in the range of 1500–2000 g per 100 Nm3 of gas which starts condensing directly into the solid form if the temperature of the gas goes down. Therefore, removal of naphthalene from coke oven gas is vital for ease of transporting through pipelines and its use as fuel. The removal process consists of scrubbing system followed by a stripping system. The scrubbing system requires efficient wash oil for absorbing the naphthalene, and the rich wash oil needs to be stripped for recycling the wash oil in the scrubbing system. In the present study, four different sources of wash oils were chosen for detailed characterization followed by aspen simulation. The stripping of naphthalene from rich wash oils shows that the HWO has better efficiency, followed by CTWO. The SWO and IWO are also having satisfactory performance. The SWO contains less sulfur and specific gravity compared to CTWO, HWO and IOWO. The characterization temperature of SWO at 5% distilled is very high (347.5°C) as compared to IOWO (330.6°C), HWO (280.3°C), and CTWO (252.1°C). Also, the temperature at 95% distilled is 373.3°C is low compared to other tested oils. The result shows that properties of SWO oil are superior for absorbing naphthalene.

Assessment of bollworm damage and yield loss in seed blends of Bollgard-II with corresponding Non-Bt hybrid as ‘built in refuge’ in cotton

Bt cotton plants, with bollworm resistant trait, have been widely adopted since introduced in India in 2002. As a proactive measure to prevent evolution of resistance to Bt protein(s), it was approved for commercial cultivation with a stipulation of structured refuge of minimum 20% of the Bt area, constituted by plants that do not produce Bt toxins and thus allow growth and development of population of Bt susceptible pests. Though the refuge cotton seeds are provided in a separate pouch within each Bt cotton seed packet, Indian farmers have been reluctant to sow refuge. To find out a method for ensured refuge planting, we experimented with ‘built-in-refuge’ (BIR) in which non-Bt cotton seeds were blended with Bt cotton seeds in various proportions ie 5,10, 50% along with 20% recommended structured refuge and each treatment was evaluated in terms of fruiting body damage by major cotton lepidopterans, relative to the regulator stipulated 20% non-Bt structured refuge at five locations during cotton growing season of 2012–13. A major outcome from this study was that treatments with 5 and 10% non-Bt blends with bollga0rd-II were as effective as the 20% structured refuge, based on fruiting body damage due to bollworms, a key factor in managing Bt resistance without any compromise to the seed cotton yield. It can be concluded that the seed blend technology is a good option to impose refugia compliance to delay resistance in Bt cotton to bollworms in a country having lesser alternate hosts available for the target bollworms during the season and voluntary compliance of refuge is absent.

Optimization of gate-bias stability and gas-sensing properties of triethylsilylethynyl anthradithiophene micro-strip field-effect transistors by incorporating insulating polymer

Abstract The control of the microstructure and patterning of 5,11-bis(triethylsilylethynyl)anthradithiophene (TES-ADT) film is essential for high-performance TES-ADT field-effect transistors (FETs) as a NO2 gas sensor. In this study, a binary blend film based on TES-ADT and insulating polymer was annealed by solvent vapor with patterned PDMS molds. The solvent-containing PDMS mold led to the TES-ADT crystallization under the phase-separation between TES-ADT and PMMA. This resulted in highly crystalline micro-strip films where TES-ADT and the insulating polymer were phase-separated on top and bottom, respectively. The micro-strip structures can have superior gas sensor performance because they have additional gas diffusion paths compared to non-patterned structures. Initial investigations to clarify morphology and microstructure of the films revealed that lateral phase separation got dominant with increasing the portion of the insulating polymer. The blended films were then used as the active layer in the FET-based gas sensors. The use of blended films instead of non-blended TES-ADT film in FETs is advantageous in reducing both the threshold voltage and subthreshold slope while compromising the field-effect mobility. The sensing response as the gas sensors is slightly lower in the blended TES-ADT FET than in the non-blended TES-ADT FET. However, the utilization of blended films significantly enhanced the bias-stress stability. Accordingly, a uniform baseline of the sensor performance was achieved in TES-ADT: insulating polymer blended FETs. This trend was in contrast to an abrupt decrease in the sensing signals of the non-blended TES-ADT FETs. The enhanced bias stability of the blended FETs was exhibited as a result of covering the silanol groups in SiO2 with a phase-separated insulating polymer. Our results provide a route for to the optimization of bias stability and response in TES-ADT micro-strip gas sensors through the application of a one-step blend technology.

Properties and Characteristic of Amine-Polymer Blend Membrane

Polymer blend technology has earned a significant position in the field of polymer science. Current membrane technology can easily and simply remove and separates carbon dioxide as pressure, temperature, costs, and energy requirements are low. There is also no corrosion problem from the straightforward process of removing CO2 from natural gas, especially in remote or offshore locations that are easily scaled up. However, glassy polymeric membranes suffer from a lack of permeability causing performance degradation and higher selectivity. Nevertheless, amine solutions are capable of purifying naturally acidic gas. Within this framework, the blending of the polysulfone (PSU) glassy polymer with amines such as diethanolamine (DEA), methyl diethanolamine (MDEA), and monoethanolamine (MEA) in a dimethylacetamide solvent, resulted in the development of flat sheet membranes with the desired properties. The findings showed good miscibility between PSU and amines blends, all the original functional groups were shown by FTIR. The synthesized amine polymer blend membrane were found to have homogenous surfaces and a packed bed sphere structure (PBSS) as shown by FESEM images. Furthermore the addition of different amine solution, have increased the size of PBSS due to incorporation of amine molecule into the sphere.

Recyclability/malleability of crack healable polymer composites by response surface methodology

The production of polymeric materials contributes remarkably to the accelerating growth of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere. The use of recycled material replacing natural resources yields to the decrease of environmental burden and reduction of processing energy. Thermosets composites are among the top list of material selections for many engineering applications. The environmental sustainability of thermosets recycling gains more attention than ever. In this study, recyclable polymer composites based on self-healing effect were fabricated through polymerization-induced phase separation (PIPS) because of the advantages of polymer blend technology in industrial applications. The thermosets composites were recycled after storage for 20 months. The relationship between processing variables and material properties was investigated by using responsive surface methodology (RSM) models. The processing variables include thermal compression molding temperature, loading pressure, and compaction time. The mechanical properties of recycled composite samples were tested by static uniaxial compression and three-point bending. According to the RSM analysis, the recyclability up to 85% was achieved. Moreover, the recycling process has the potential to be repeated multiple times.

Which one is more important, raw materials or productive technology?--a case study for quality consistency control of Gegen Qinlian decoction

To investigate the effect of Chinese medicine raw materials and production technology on quality consistency of Chinese patent medicines with Gegen Qinlian decoction as an example, and establish a suitable method for the quality consistency control of Chinese patent medicines. The results showed that the effect of production technology on the quality consistency was generally not more than 5%, while the effect of raw materials was even more than 30%, indicating that the effect of raw materials was much greater than that of the production technology. In this study, blend technology was used to improve the quality consistency of raw materials. As a result, the difference between the product produced by raw materials and reference groups was less than 5%, thus increasing the quality consistence of finished products. The results showed that under the current circumstances, the main factor affecting the quality consistency of Chinese patent medicines was raw materials, so we shall pay more attention to the quality of Chinese medicine's raw materials. Finally, a blend technology can improve the quality consistency of Chinese patent medicines.

350km/h EMUs Light Frame Model Reconstruction Technology

As the EMUs (Electrical Multiple Unit) light frame structure, combined of many complex surfaces, building its geometric model directly is a big challenge. Reverse Engineering Technology is adopted to make the light frame redesign. Considering the characteristics of the frame surface with big curvature changed, irregular contours of structural features and IGES based model, authors proposed the model reconstruction method, by using independent geometric module in Pro/E. Firstly, establish base planes from IGES file, then duplicate light frame surface from IGES file to generate a set of intersection curves with the base planes and surface duplicated above as mixed guide curves. After that, curvature analysis technique is presented for intersection curves precision check. And finally, the 3D model is reconstructed by boundary blend technology. The original data imported can be removed from this model in order to support parts redesign as well as their manufacturability analysis. Research outcomes above offer an efficient innovation solution for surface reconstruction with curvature changed dramatically and IGES based model as well.

HDPEパイプの力学的特性に及ぼすin-situ形成PBT繊維の影響

Pipes manufactured with high density polyethylene (HDPE) have been widely used for gas and water supply because of their own processing ability and well-balanced mechanical properties such as ductility, impact strength and modulus etc. However, the HDPE pipes are often scratched or cracked by heavy machinery at road construction sites and so on, and the defects sometimes cause fatal destructions. Therefore, the pipe endowed high mechanical properties have been strongly requested. Under such circumstances, the aim of this study was research and development of high performance gas pipe products by means of the polymer blend technology combined with HDPE and a poly butylene terephthalate (PBT). The PBT domains with fibrous structure were formed and dispersed in the HDPE matrix during the profiled extrusion process. However, the effects of characteristic fibrous structure on the mechanical properties were insufficient, because the great majority of PBT domain was shaped as spherical or spheroid giving rise to the relaxation of fibrous domain while quenching. On the other hand, the PBT domain maintained the fibrous structure in thin and small diameter pipe due to high speed quenching, and efficiently made the HDPE matrix reinforced.

Effect of flexibility of ethylene vinyl acetate and crystallization of polypropylene on the mechanical properties of i‐PP/EVA blends

AbstractPolymer blend technology has been widely used for the past several years for the modification or enhancement of mechanical properties of polymers to obtain an overall balance of properties over those of the constituents. Despite its interesting mechanical and thermal properties, the impact strength of polypropylene leaves wide scope for improvement. A series of blends of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer with an impact grade of isotactic polypropylene (i‐PP) were prepared by single screw extrusion at 0–0.32 volume fraction of the dispersed phase. The mechanical properties such as tensile behavior, elongation‐at‐break, and impact strength of these blends systems as well as crystallinity were evaluated. Crystallinity data have been used in greater depth to support the mechanical properties. Differential scanning calorimetry studies conducted to study the modification in crystallinity of the crystalline component, i‐PP, of the blend revealed that the rubber component of the blend enhanced the crystallinity of i‐PP phase by providing sites for nucleation. Tensile modulus and strength decreased while the impact strength and breaking elongation enhanced with blending elastomer concentration. The improved properties of these PP/EVA blends are encouraging for carrying out further work on this system (composites) and suggest potential high impact strength applications for PP. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012

Polymer Blends in Membrane Transport Processes

Polymer blend technology and gas membrane separation have been two research areas where Prof. Don Paul has had major contributions. The combination of these topics has been chosen as the subject of this review paper. The morphology of phase separated polymer blends is an important variable in the design of enhanced transport properties. The fundamentals of polymer blends in transport processes will be discussed along with situations where polymer blends may be desired. These areas include barrier polymers, gas membrane separation, percolation networks for electrical conductivity, proton exchange membranes, and polymers employed in optoelectronic devices. The predictions of the series, parallel, Maxwell, and equivalent box models are applied where relevant to these examples.

Carbon Alloys—Multi-functionalization

Last decade after our proposal of the “Carbon Alloys” concept, many different kinds of Carbon Alloys, such as carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, graphene sheet with magnetism, semi-conducting BCN compounds, graphite intercalation compounds, exfoliated carbon fiber, etc. have been found and developed. To extend the concept further, it is important to make it into intelligent materials by incorporating multiple functions. One example of the multi-functionalization is the development of homo-atomic Carbon Alloys from glassy carbon (GC) that exhibits high electrical conductivity and low gas permeability after treatment at critical conditions. Glassy carbon underwent metamorphosis to graphite spheres at HIP condition, and improved resistance to oxidation after alloying with Ta. The other one is shape utilization of the nano-sized carbon by understanding the effect of its large surfaces or interfaces in nanotechnology treatment. Recently carbon nanofiber was produced by polymer blend technology (PB) which was proposed by Prof. A. Oya during the Carbon Alloy project and progressed into intelligent carbon nanofiber (CNF) materials. CNF is combined into the polymer composites which is a candidate material for the bipolar separator in fuel cell. The superior properties, i.e., high electrical conductivity, high modulus, high strength, etc., of the CNF is being utilized in the preparation of this polymer composite.

Hospice of the Valley Begins Using Lenovo Tablet Personal Computers to Blend Technology with Patient Care

Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing: July 2007 - Volume 9 - Issue 4 - p 176-177 doi: 10.1097/01.NJH.0000280240.87030.c3

Recent Advances for Intumescent Polymers

AbstractSummary: This paper reviews recent approaches for making intumescent systems. The mechanisms of action involving intumescence are described and commented on. Synergistic aspects using zeolites and organoclays are also considered and discussed. New strategies are examined on the basis of the mechanism of intumescence. The approach of using char forming polymers as additives (blend technology) is also fully discussed. This consists of substituting classical polyols (char forming agents) with char forming polymers (polyamides and thermoplastic polyurethane). It will be shown that the advantages of this concept are to obtain flame‐retarded (FR) polymer blends with improved mechanical properties in comparison with polymers loaded with classical formulations, and the avoidance of problems due to the water solubility of the polyols and their migration. The “nanocomposite approach” enhances the performance of intumescent systems by using a nanostructured char forming polymer. It will be shown that this combination of intumescence via the blending approach and nanocomposites enhances both flame retardancy and mechanical properties, and allows many specifications to be produced (for example, the design of EVA‐based materials for flame retarded low voltage cables and wire). This appears to be one of the most promising ways for designing new efficient intumescent materials.Intumescent residue after LOI test of an intumescent poly(propylene).magnified imageIntumescent residue after LOI test of an intumescent poly(propylene).

Processing technologies for continuous fibre reinforced thermoplastics with novel polymer blends

Continuous fibre reinforced thermoplastics (CFRT) for high performance applications are often based on the high-priced PEEK matrix combined with a carbon fibre reinforcement. The potential of blending PEEK with less expensive high temperature thermoplastics like PEI, PES and PSU will help to reduce costs. The research work mainly focuses on the production of semi-finished sheets consisting of such polymer blends and carbon fibre reinforcements. In this context a continuous prepregging method has been realised which combines the matrix (powder) with the textile to a manageable material with a defined weight composition. A subsequent static pressing process leads to fully impregnated and consolidated CFRT sheets. The laminates are then characterised regarding thickness, bending stiffness and quality of impregnation. So far a strong influence of the pressing dwell time on impregnation could be proved. Thereby a generally good correlation between the microscopic views and the mechanical data of neat PEEK and the blend systems occurred. Some blends were identified to enable mechanical properties and permit processing methods that are comparable to neat PEEK. Thus the blend technology can be considered as an alternative to provide more cost-effective CFRT sheets for high performance demands.